Feeding and blanking die mechanism



Jan. 9, 1945. H. D. HANDLEY FEEDING AND BLANKING DIE MECHANISM Filed March 25 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l ks Mam a E INVENTOR.

Jan. 9, 1945.

H. D. HANDLEY FEEDING AND BLANKING DIE MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTdR.

[2 I MW Q Patented Jan. 9, 1945 FEEDING AND BLANKING Din MECHANISM [Harold D. Handley, Hamilton, Ohio, assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New Jersey a 1 Application March 25, 1943, Serial No. 480,549

t 6 Claims. (01. 1 4-21) This invention relates to die mechanism for blanking sheet material and has particular reference to a holding device located in the die for engaging the sheet material as a blank is cut therefrom and for holding the blank under control while shifting it through anopening in the die mechanism. p i

The present invention contemplates a feeding and blanking die mechanism in which blanks or flat discs .arecut from sheet material advanced falongone plane while the material is engaged and held during the cutting andin which the cut blank then is shifted under control to some other plane along which itmay be moved to a suitable place of deposit such as to the working stationuof an adjacent machine.

1 An object of the inventionis the provision of a blanking die mechanism for cutting blanks from strip sheet material on one plane or level and having devices within the die for holding the cut blank under control and for shifting and releasing it at some other plane or level for discharge from the mechanism.

Another object of the invention is the provision of feeding and blanking die mechanism for feeding strips of sheet material intermittently on one level into a blanking die and for cutting blanks from the stripWher-ein suction devices located in the die hold thestrip in a blankis fed along on one level for cutting or punching blanks therefrom. In this mechanism the web or {strips of sheet material, indicated by the letter A, are fed progressively in an intermittent or step by step manner along a predetermined path of travel to pass between movable and stationary die parts of a die mechanism B (Fig. 1) which is located at a blanking station of a conventional punch press or other machine. i i i i As .thestrip A is broughtto rest during the intervals between the stepped advancement, it is engaged and held; temporarily preferably just prior to and during the cutting of a blank C (Fig.

3). This is accomplished by means of a movable suction cup D which moves Within an open ing'in the die mechanism. l l

The suction cup D holds the strip at that portion which is to becut out and which coning area while cutting the blank and hold the blank after cutting and thereafter shift the cut blankthrough the die'while holding the blank undercontrol to release it at a different level for further advancement.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better under stitutes a blanking area. Aftersuch a cutting operation the suction cup continues to hold the resulting blank C and draws it downwardly through the die part toanother plane or level while keeping it under control. At this diiferent level, the blank is released for further advancement. l

The drawings of this invention illustrate a mechanism in which the blanks C, are cut 'on one level and are delivered onto a lowerlevel but the invention applies equally as well to blanks that are to be delivered into any desired plane different from the plane of cutting.

stood from the following description, which, taken H in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a feeding and blanking die mechanism embodying the instant invention with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a sectional top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1 as taken substantially along the lines 2-2 in that figure with parts broken away; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the die mechanism shown in Fig. l illustratingthe moving parts in a diiferent position: and

Fig. 4 is a detail showing the forked end ofa feed bar.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawings illustratethe principal parts of a feeding and blanking diemechanism, wherein flat sheet material preferably in web or strip form In theinstant mechanism, Fig. 1 of the drawin s illustrates a stripA being fed longitudinally along a feedtable ll toward the die mechanism B which is located adjacent the inner.

by a; reciprocating feed bar l3 having spring mounted in the frame.

held, depressiblefeed dogs or fingers I4 spaced along the bar; This feed bar slides in a slideway it; which is formed in the table I I. l

The feed bar I3 is reciprocated through a forward or feeding stroke and thence through a back or return stroke by a link l6 which connects the bar to oneend of a rocker I1 of a lever l8. This lever is carriedon a stud or pivot pin 22 The lever It! has a short arm 23 which is connected to one end of an eccentric arm 24 which surrounds an eccentric 25 mounted on a horizontal drive shaft 26 journaled in bearings formed in the main frame.

' of the collars;

. stationary and upper movable die parts 28, 29 of the die mechanism B. These die parts are in I level 56.

separated relation during each feeding stroke so that the sheet material may be placed over the lower die part 28 and in position for cutting.

The lower die part or stationary member 28 is mounted on a bolster plate 32 secured to the machine main frame l2. This stationary die member is fastened in position by clamps 33 which are bolted to the frame. The upper or cutting edge of the die part 28 is substantially on the same plane as the upper or initial feed level.

It is over this cutting edge that the strip ad vances during a feeding stroke.

The upper die part or punch 29 is reciproeated vertically and is secured to-the lower end of a slide 34. This slide moves in slideways 35, 36 mounted on the machine main frame I2. The slide is reciprocated through a down or working stroke and then through an up or return stroke in any suitable manner in time with the feed bar l3. This is a usual punch press construction.

The suction cup D, located within the die 28 is carried on the upper end of a vertically reciprocable tube or hollow rod 31. This cup preferably is formed from resilient material such as rubber or the like. The cup has an opening which leads to the upper or sheet engaging surface and which communicates with a passage 38 in the tube 31. The lower'end of this tube carries one end of a flexible connecting hose 42 which leads to a suitable source of vacuum. The tube 31 is vertically reciprocated through an up stroke. and thence through a down stroke in a bearing 43 which may be formed integral on the bolster plate 32.

The tube 31 is actuated by a rocker arm 44 of a lever 45 carried on a stud or pivot pin 46 secured in the main frame. The, lever 45 is operated by an edge cam 41 mounted on the shaft 26. This cam cooperates with a cam roller 48 carried on the outer end of an arm 52 of the lever 45 and thus effects movement. of the lever in time A.

with other moving parts of the machine. spring 53 connected to the arm 52 has one end severing operation results in a blank C. In some installations it may be desirable for the suction cup not to engage the strip but to come into holding position only after the blank C is severed.

When the punch returns on its up-stroke, the suction cup holds onto the cut-out blank and keeps it under control while the cup moves down through the die to the lower level, indicated by the numeral 56. At thebottom of its down stroke, the suction cup D brings the blank Cinto superimposed position onto a reciprocating auxiliary feed bar 58 which is located at the lower feed The rear end of feed bar 58 adjacent the suction cup is formed with two spaced and parallel fork prongs 61 (Fig. 4) which straddle the suction cup tube 31. Each of these prongs carries one depressible feed finger 62, the two fingers being engageable simultaneously behind the rear main frame l2 of the machine. The forked end of the feed bar slides in a wider groove 61 which is located beneath the stationary die 28 and which is formed in the bolster plate 32.

' of the link is fastened to a lug 12 which depends Th auxiliary feed bar 58 is reciprocated through a forward or feeding stroke and thence through a return stroke by a link H. One end from the reed bar and which operates in a. slot 13 formed in th auxiliary feedtable 66. The

other end of the link is connected to a rocker arm 14 of a lever 15 mounted on a pivot pin 15 secured in the main frame 12.

Th lever 15 is formed with a short actuating arm 8| which at its outer end connects with a feeding stroke (toward the right as viewed in hooked to a stud secured to the frame I2 and this keeps the cam 41 and roller 48 in operating engagement.

The tube 3'! and arm 44 are linked together in any desirable manner such as by a forked end of the arm located between a pair of spaced collars 54 (Figs. 1 and 2) formed near the lower end of the tube 31. The terminal ends of this -fork are. rounded .as at 55 to effect a rockin action as they engage against the spaced walls Following the delivery of the strip A into cutting position at the blanking station, the suction cup D preferably moves up into engagement with the strip and holds it stationary against the cutting. edge of the die 28 (Fig. 1). The punch 29 moves down and cuts through the strip and enters the die member 28 and thereby severs the portion of the strip held by thesuction cup, which Fig. 1) the feed fingers 62 in the forked prongs 5i advance the blank C one step along the lower feed level 55 and into the path of travel of the feed'fingers $3. Lateral openings such as notches 85, 86 inthe bottom of the stationary di 28 and in the adjacent clamp 33jprov'ide clearance for the feed bar fingers 6 2, 63 during these strokes. 1

- On the return stroke of the feed bar 58 the advanced blank C is held stationary in its advanced position by hold-down blocks 5| which are disposed above the path of travel 0f the blanks on the auxiliary table66 and which engage against the blanks. The blocks 9| are supported in longitudinal bars 82 which are secured to the table. Flat leaf springs 93 having one end secured to the support bar and th other end freely engaging the top of the blocks, press theblocks against the blanks C on the table to apply pressure thereto.

A blank 0 advanced into the path .5: travel Y of thefeed fingers 63 in the main portion of the feed bar 58 is engaged by these fingers as the 66 in a step by-step manner.

feed bar reciprocates through successive feed strokes and is advanced along the auxiliary table Guide rails 95 secured to the table guide th blanks as they r advanc therealong. At the outer end of the auxiliary feed table the blanks C are discharged from the machine by the reed bar to any suitable lace of deposit.

During this cutting of the blanks C from the strip A and the transfer and advancement of the blanks to and along the lower feed level 56, provision is made to take car of thescrap are secured at their ends to the mainframe l2 and to a bracket 9'! which is bolted to the outer end of the auxiliary feed table. l

Th scrap skeleton is discharged {from the machine by a pair of discharge rollers 98 between which the skeleton passes as it is advanced by the feed bar l3. Thes rollers are mounted on short driving shafts 99 which are carried in bearings formedin the guide rail bracket 91. The rollers are periodically rotated, once for each strip A, in time with the other moving parts of the, machine and in any suitable manner to discharge the skeleton. after all the blanks have been removed from the strip. This is a usual skeleton discharge device employed on numerous punch presses and other blanking die machines and it is therefore felt, that further description of the device is.unnecessary.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without I departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificin all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: 1 1. In a blanking diemechanism for cutting blanks from sheet material, the combination of 3, In a blanking die mechanism for cutting blanks from sheet material, the combination of a stationary die member having an opening therein, a feeding device adjacent said die member for advancing said sheet rmaterial in a plane across said die opening, a punch member movable into saiddieopening for cutting a blank from the sheet material, holding devices located in said stationary die for engaging the sheet material to ,hold it under control while ablank is being out therefrom and. for shifting the cut blank through said stationary die opening to a different plane,

and an auxiliary feeding device located at the said different plane for receiving the shifted blank. l

4. In a blanking die mechanism for cutting blanks from sheet material, the combination of a stationary die member having an opening therea in, a punch member movable into said die opening for cutting a blank from sheet material interposed between said die and punch members at one level and a suction cup located in said stationary die and operable therein for engaging the blank to hold it under controland for shifting the cut blank to discharge it from said mechanism at a different level.

said table and in said plane, a stationarydie member located adjacent said table and having an opening therein, a punch member movable into said die openingfor cutting a blank from l the sheetmaterial on said table, an auxiliary ta-,

ble, disposed adjacent said stationary die in a second plane, auxiliary feeding devices operable along said auxiliary table, and a suction cup 10- cated in said stationary die and operable in syn chronism with said punch for engaging and holding the sheet material while a blank is being cut,

in the feed table plane and for shifting the cut blank through said die opening while holding it under control to discharge the blank in said second plane of said auxiliary table. 6. In a sheet material feeding and blanking die mechanism, the combination of a feed table for supporting a sheet oi material fed along an upper level, feed bars movable in said table and having depressible fingers for advancing the material intermittently along the table, a stationary die member located adjacentlsaid table and having an opening extending therethrough, a

der control, and means for moving said blank holding means out of the plane of, said sheet material independently of and relative to the ening for cutting a blank from sheet material placed adjacent said openinggand holdingde vices located in said stationary diefor engaging said sheet material to hold it under control while a blank is cut therefrom and for shifting the cut blank through said opening;

' table.

punch member movable into said die opening for cutting a blank from the sheetrmaterial fed over the said die opening by said feedbars, an auxiliary feed table disposed adjacent said stationary die and located at a lower level, an auxiliary feed bar operable in said auxiliary feedtable and having strip-oil fingers, and a suction cup located in said stationary die for engaging a blanking area of the sheet material while a blank is being cut and for drawing down the cut blank through said die opening while holding it under control to release it at the lower level and into the strip-off fingers of said feed bar in said auxiliary feed HAROID n. HANDLEY. 

